Forensic head trauma in elderly patients accompanying comorbidities

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the characteristics and accompanying comorbidities of patients aged 65 years and older who presented to the emergency department with head trauma and were evaluated as forensic cases. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted with a retrospective evaluation of 157 patients aged 65 years and over who were admitted to the emergency department and evaluated as forensic cases.Results: The most common cause of head trauma was a fall. Of the patients, 38.9% were hospitalized for follow-up, 14% were followed up in the intensive care unit (ICU), and 14% died. Falling from a height, the presence of accompanying thoracic trauma, and an increased number of requested consultations were statistically associated with hospitalization (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant relationship between mortality and the presence of falling from a height as the cause of trauma, accompanying pelvic trauma, hemorrhage on brain computed tomography, ICU follow-up requirement, and active partial thromboplastin time among the coagulation parameters (p<0.001).Conclusion: Trauma has become the most important socioeconomic problem due to its consequences, such as death and disability in elderly patients. Intracranial bleeding, the presence of accompanying conditions, increases mortality; therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is required in the emergency care of this patient.